Patient gurney for use with multiple, different patient support boards

ABSTRACT

A gurney for transporting a patient has a chassis that has a support component that supports a supporting board for a patient. Upon placement on the support component, the board is subsequently fastened with a positive fit to prevent lateral motion, and the board can be removed by means of a medical treatment or examination device. The support component allows at least two different boards to be alternately supported and fastened with a positive fit at their head ends. The boards are different from one another at their head ends on the underside in shape and/or in width.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention concerns a gurney to transport a patient,of the type having a chassis with a support component that supports aboard for the patient, wherein the board, upon placement on the supportcomponent, is prevented from lateral motion due to positive fit, andwhereby the board to bear the patent during an examination or atreatment can be detached by means of a medical device that conducts theexamination of treatment.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] A gurney of this type is known, for example, from German PS 42 24036, U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,968, British Specification 961 677 and GermanOS 199 47 361. The German OS 101 13 855 (published after the Germanapplication on which convention priority is based) also discloses such agurney.

[0005] In a large hospital, a number of medical examination devices thatare distinct from one another and/or therapy devices that are distinctfrom one another are usually present. Each examination and/or treatmentdevice has a specific stationary patient support device with a matchingbearing plate belonging thereto that is mounted immovably or movably ona base. For example, bearing plates or support boards for computedtomography systems are slightly curved on the underside in conformity tothe rotation geometry. Support boards exist for angiographicexaminations that, for reasons of accessibility, taper at the head end,i.e. the width at the head end approximately corresponds to the diameterof a human head. The patient rests on the support board during theexamination or treatment. In order to insert the patient into theexamination or treatment area of the particular examination and/ortreatment device, for example into the tunnel of a magnetic resonancetomography apparatus, the support board is movably seated or directed onthe base.

[0006] For transport to or from an examination and/or treatment device,a transport cart is used, also referred to as a gurney. The patient iscarried on the gurney. A transfer procedure thus is necessary that istime-consuming and physically taxing for the medical personnel. Inaddition, severely injured patients, for example trauma patients, cansuffer additional harm in a transfer procedure. Furthermore, valuabletime is lost due to the transfer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a gurney inwhich these disadvantages are avoided or at least alleviated.

[0008] This object is inventively achieved in a gurney of the typeinitially described wherein the support component is fashioned toalternately allow at least two different support boards to be supportedsat the head end and to be firmly fastened with a positive fit, thesupport boards being different from each other in shape at the undersideand/or in width at the head end.

[0009] The support component is designed such that, in spite of thedifferent shapes of the undersides and/or different widths of thesupport boards, a positive fit of the underside and/or the side surfacesof each board to the support component always ensues when either boardis placed on the component, such that the support board is preventedfrom lateral motion, in particular from bilateral motion.

[0010] The form fit preferably ensues two-dimensionally between theunderside or/and the side surfaces of each board on the side and acontact surface on the support component on the other side.

[0011] The different boards are support boards of different types,meaning for different types of medical devices. The board types include,for example, a board type for a computed tomography device, a board typefor an angiography x-ray device, a board type for an x-ray fluoroscopyor static exposure system, a board type for a therapy device, and/or aboard type for a magnetic resonance tomography device.

[0012] An advantage of the inventive solution is that the patient, upontransport to or from a medical examination and/or treatment device, canalready be positioned on the appropriate board required for theparticular examination and/or treatment device and the matching patientsupport device. In particular, the portion of the hospital or clinicworkflow called the intermodalities workflow is thereby simplified. Thenumber of necessary transfer or bed-change events is thereby reduced ina manner advantageous to the hospital personnel. The hospital personnelcan ergonomically work more advantageously and less strenuously. Becausea number of different boards can be attached to the same gurney, thisadvantage can be achieved without a particularly large number ofdifferent gurneys being required. This means that the probability ishigh that the hospital personnel will be able to immediately find asuitable gurney at a specific location or examination or treatment roomin the hospital, even though a lower number of gurneys may be present.

[0013] A further advantage of the invention is that the gurney conformsto the boards that are already present, and not necessarily the reverse.This eases retrofitting.

[0014] For example, the gurney is fashioned such that the respectiveboards can be applied to the gurney at the end of the patient's head,i.e., the support component is located at the head end.

[0015] At opposite ends, each board can be coupled to the gurney. Eachboard can be firmly coupled at its opposite, meaning that in the coupledstate, removal and/or movement of the board from or on the gurney isprevented. The coupling can ensue non-positively and/or positively.

[0016] In one embodiment, a positive connection is only produced at oneend of the gurney between the board and the gurney. A number ofadvantages follow from this. First, the boards need not be provided atthe head end with a coupling mechanism that would possibly have to bemanufactured of metal. This permits this end of the each board to beinsertable into the opening of a magnetic resonance tomography scanneror a computed tomography scanner without disturbing their operation (byinteraction with magnetic fields by x-ray absorption or the like). Afurther advantage is that—proceeding on the basis of a known examinationand/or treatment device with a scanner board firmly attached—the boardon the side that cooperates with the support of introduction mechanismof the scanner does not have to be changed, at least not substantially.This is of significance with regard to retrofitting existing medicalexamination and/or treatment devices. Furthermore, there is theadvantage that, given attachment of the board to one end of the gurney,the gurney can be fashioned such that obstruction to hospital personnelis prevented, meaning that the patient is optimally accessible.

[0017] In the gurney, a first cantilevered bracket or arm as a supportcomponent to support the board and a second cantilevered bracket or armto couple the board can be provided.

[0018] The second arm preferably is fashioned such that the board in theconnected state comes to lie underneath the second arm. In particular,the second arm is fashioned for suspended acceptance of the board. It isconvenient for the second arm to have coupling that produces a firm,releasable connection with the board. Such a coupling can be realized ina simple manner, for example by a latch or snap mechanism.

[0019] In contrast, such a rigid connection to the board in the supportcomponent at the first arm is omitted in the gurney according to theinvention. The first arm is preferably fashioned such that the board canstill be moved upwardly. This provides the advantage that the attachmentof the board to the gurney is simplified for hospital personnel. Afurther advantage is that a coupling device that (in particular if it ismanufactured of metal) could disrupt the imaging in an examinationdevice is not mandatory at the head end of the board, i.e. on the sideof the first arm.

[0020] The arms preferably are removable from the chassis andexchangeable with one another. For example, the rear arm can be attachedto the front position, and the front arm can be attached to the rearposition, so the advantage arises that the gurney can optionallyapproach a patient positioning device from the left or right, and ineach case it is ensured that the gurney can be turned so the first armis closer to the examination region of an examination device, forexample the opening of a magnetic resonance tomography scanner.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, separate contact surfaces for creatingthe positive fit are present at the support component for each of theboards. The contact surfaces respectively can be planar or curved, andcan be hard or provided with a soft coating.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the support component has a movableseated part that can be adjusted with regard to its position and/or itsalignment so that in a first position it produces the positive fit toone of the different boards, and in a second position the supportcomponent is ready to accept another board.

[0023] The movable seated part has a contact surface for at least one ofthe boards. For example, the movable seated part can be adapted(matched) to the underside of a matching board, such that it can befastened with a positive fit.

[0024] Preferably one of the boards is (at least in sections) a narrowboard, in particular a board for an angiography x-ray device, and thesupport component has two lowerable guiding jaws that are separated fromeach other by a spacing matched to the width of the (preferably planar)narrow board. The sides of the guiding jaws turned facing one anotherare (acting as contact surfaces), are matched to the shape (inparticular beveled) of the side surfaces of the narrow board. Theguiding jaws can be considered as a movable seated part in the sensedescribed above.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment, one of the boards is a curvedboard, in particular a board for a computed tomography device, and thesupport component has a recess that is adapted to the board in terms ofits width and/or shape. For example, only the width of the recess ismatched to the width of the curved board. The recess, for example, canbe adapted in the base region to the shape of the curved board. Therecess, for example, can be adapted to the underside of the board,however, the recess alternatively have an open bottom.

[0026] The curved board preferably represents a second board type of thenarrow board, for which the gurney is likewise fashioned for a positivefit.

[0027] Preferably a based part to support the narrow board can belowered, such that the recess to accept the curved board is free.

[0028] In another preferred embodiment, one of the boards is a universalboard, in particular a board for an x-ray fluoroscopy system or x-rayexposure system, and the support component has a depression that isfitted to the universal board with regard to width and/or shape. Thedepression alternatively can have an open bottom.

[0029] The (preferably planar) universal board preferably represents athird board type of the narrow board and the curved board, for which thegurney is additionally fashioned for a positive fit.

[0030] The depth of the depression for the universal board preferably issmaller than the depth of the recess, and its width preferably isgreater than the width of the recess, measured from an upper edge as acommon reference point.

[0031] For example, the depression for the universal board haspositionally rigid contact surfaces on the edge side with a shape isadapted to the (in particular planar) underside of the universal board.

[0032] In another preferred embodiment, the gurney has a sensor devicethat upon contact with one of the preferred embodiments (dependent onits type) undertakes an unlatching or latching with a support componentthat enables the acceptance and fastening of the board.

[0033] In particular, the sensor device interacts with the supportcomponent via a mechanical linkage.

[0034] The sensor device can be a sensor arranged such that, upontransfer of at least one of the boards from a medical examination and/ortherapy device, it comes in contact with this board, and is therebydeflected or otherwise activated. The movement of the sensor can thenaffect the unlatching and latching in the support component, for examplevia the mechanical linkage.

[0035] Dependent on the height of the lower edge of the board above thefloor, the sensor preferably is deflected a variable distance or (isvariably activated). This is of particular relevance in the event thatthe height of the lower edge of the board above the floor is differentfor different medical examination and/or therapy devices to beapproached by the gurney. This allows the gurney is “pick up”, i.e.accept different boards at heights different from one another i.e., thenarrow board and the curved board, or the narrow board and the universalboard, or the curved board and the universal board, or any combinationof these boards, in the device pertaining to the respective board. Thesensor is then, for example, preset to be activated at two or threedifferent heights, i.e. distances of the boards from the floor, suchthat a different effect can be exercised on the support component withina known tolerance range for each of these heights.

[0036] Given an operation of the sensor device, a release can beeffected for motion of the movably mounted part described above.

[0037] For example, given an operation of the sensor device, a releasecan be effected to lower the guiding jaws and/or the base part.

[0038] In a further embodiment the two booms, and in particular thesupport component, are respectively attached at the ends of a telescopecolumns. It is thereby possible to adapt the gurney upon transfer to orfrom one of the examination and/or treatment devices at the respectivepositioning heights of the appertaining examination and/or treatmentdevices. The gurney according to the invention thus can be used atdifferent device heights so that it is universally suitable forexamination and/or treatment devices of several different types.

[0039] Upon picking up a board from a particular medical examination ortherapy device, the support component is adjusted for this purpose to adefined, predetermined height above the floor. This can ensue manually,whereby either the determined heights are indicated via markings on thegurney or/and an indication device is present to continually read outthe current height of the support component. Furthermore, specifiedheights can be set by a latching mechanism.

[0040] To assist the operating personnel, a motor can be provided tochange the height of the support component that, for example, canoperate one of the aforementioned telescopic columns.

[0041] In this embodiment a memory is provided in which different heightpositions of the support component are stored, as well as an outputdevice, that positions the support component in one of the stored heightpositions, dependent on an input entered by an input device.

[0042] The stored heights are, for example, the aforementioned different“transfer heights,” which are necessary or desired for the differentmedical examination or therapy devices. With the entry via the inputdevice, for example, the type of the board and/or the type of themedical examination or therapy device can be selected.

[0043] The boards preferably are appropriate for supporting the patientduring an examination by means of medical device employing x-rayimaging. They are thus in particular (at least in certain areas)radiation-transparent and, for example, produced from carbonfiber-reinforced plastic (CFP).

[0044] The invention also includes a patient transport system having atleast one gurney and at least two boards of different types that arecoupleable to the gurney.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045]FIG. 1 shows a gurney according to the invention in a perspectiveoverall view.

[0046]FIG. 2 shows an embodiment for a connection mechanism in an arm ofthe gurney of FIG. 1.

[0047]FIG. 3 shows a first variant of an arm for the gurney of FIG. 1acting as a support component, with a narrow board.

[0048]FIG. 4 shows the variant of FIG. 3 with a curved board.

[0049]FIG. 5 shows a second variant of an arm for the gurney of FIG. 1acting as a support component, with a universal board.

[0050]FIG. 6 shows the variant of FIG. 5 with a curved board.

[0051]FIG. 7 shows a third variant of an arm for the gurney of FIG. 1acting as a support component, with a narrow board,

[0052]FIG. 8 shows the variant of FIG. 7 with a universal board.

[0053]FIG. 9 shows a fourth variant of an arm for the gurney of FIG. 1acting as a support component.

[0054]FIG. 10 shows the variant of FIG. 9 in another operating state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0055]FIG. 1 shown a gurney 1 or transport carriage to accept a supportor bed board 3 that is also known as a patient bearing plate. Thetransport carriage 1 has a U-shaped or C-shaped chassis 5 on which fourdouble rollers 7 are mounted. Two of the double rollers 7 can be lockedby the operation of a foot switch (not shown).

[0056] Telescopic columns 9, 11, whose height can be adjusted eithermanually or by drive motors 12A, 12B concurrently as well asindependently of one another, are attached at the edge of the closedside of the chassis 5. The telescopic columns 9, 11 respectively supporthorizontal arms 13 and 15. The arms 13, 15 serve to accept a board 3.The first arm 15 supports the board 3 and the second arm 13 engages itfrom above.

[0057] Because the telescopic columns 9, 11 can be extended respectivelyalong the vertical directions 17 and 19 independently of one another,different boards 3 with different thicknesses can be transported withthe transport carriage 1, even though the second arm 13 and the firstarm 15 engage the board 3.

[0058] The first arm 15 and the second arm 13 are attached to thechassis 5 by means of identical plug connections (not shown), such thatthey can be exchanged with each other. For locking, for example, lockingpins are present.

[0059] The gurney 1 and the board 3 are fashioned such that the head ofthe patient comes to lie at the first arm 15 and the patient's feet cometo lie at the second arm 13.

[0060] The second arm 13 is fashioned to securely couple to the board 3.A possible coupling mechanism is shown in FIG. 2. The second arm 13 hasa coupling element 27 that can be detachably, rigidly (with respect toposition) coupled via corresponding coupling elements 33 to the top ofthe board 3. In the shown example, the coupling element 27 is a peg witha conical tip, with a ring groove arranged behind it. These pegs can belatched as a pair in the respective coupling elements 33, in which aspring-loaded pin engages the ring groove.

[0061] The first arm 15 is fashioned to support the board 3 and acts asa support component 41 in its upper region. The support component 41 isfashioned such that alternately a number of boards 3A, 3B, 3C ofdifferent shapes and/or of different widths (boards of different types)can be supportably fastened with a positive fit. Different variants ofthe support component 41 are subsequently explained on the basis ofFIGS. 3 through 8.

[0062] A first variant of the support component 41 is shown in FIGS. 3and 4. According to FIG. 3, two guiding jaws 43, 45 that can be raisedand lowered are provided on the top of the first arm 15, as movablyseated parts with a separation A (≈30 cm) matched to the width of thefirst board type. This board type is represented by a board 3A thattapers at the head end, and thus is narrow, for example a board for anangiography x-ray device. The guiding jaws 43, 45 are beveled on therespective inner sides (acting as contact surfaces) in the same manneras the narrow board 3A. The narrow board 3A is held with positive fit bythe guiding jaws 43, 45, preventing lateral motion.

[0063] The support component 41 further has a basin or a recess 47 atits topside, which is adapted as a contact surface to the correspondingcurved form of the underside of a board 3B of a second type (FIG. 4),and accepts the board 3B with a positive fit. The second type is acurved (at least on the underside) board 3B, for example a board 3B fora computed tomography device. The shape of the curved board 3B is shownin cross-section in FIG. 4. The curved board 3B is also secured againstlateral movement in the position shown in FIG. 4. The width B of therecess 47 corresponds approximately to the width of the curved board 3B.

[0064] In the position shown in FIG. 3, the narrow board 3A lies on itsunderside on a planar base part 49 that likewise forms a movable seatedpart. In order for the curved board 3B, instead of the narrow board 3A,to be placed on the support component 41 by the medical personnel andfastened there with positive fit, the base part 49 can be loweredbeneath the lower edge of the recess 47. In FIG. 4, it is retracted inthe inside of the first arm 15.

[0065] When a board of the second type, i.e., the curved board 3B isplaced on the support component 41, its underside initially presses onthe guiding jaws 43, 45. These are positioned such that they can bepressed downwardly given a force ensuing from above coming from thecurved board 3B. As a result they remain positionally rigid upon impactwith a force ensuing primarily from the side coming from the narrowboard 3A. After the guiding jaws 43, 45 are pressed downwardly, theunderside of the curved board 3B then presses against the base part 49that is likewise pressed downwardly, such that the recess 47 is free toreceive the curved board 3B.

[0066] So that the base part 49 is not also pushed downwardly uponplacement of a board of the first type on the support component 41, thusthe narrow board 3A, the base part 49 remains locked until it isunlocked by an unlatching device (schematically shown). The unlatchingdevice engaging the base part 49 via a bolt is connected to a mechanicalsensor device 55 via a linkage 53 (schematically indicated by a dashedline). A lever or sensor of the sensor device 55 recognizes the type ofboard and, after recognition of the curved board 3B, releases the lockof the component 49 into which the bolt is retracted.

[0067] The recognition of the type of board is made on the basis of theassembly height of the narrow angiography board 3A being larger than theassembly height of the curved computed tomography board 3B. The lengthof the sensor 57 is therefore measured such that the sensor 57, is onlyactuated upon transfer of the curved board 3B from a computer tomographydevice, and not upon transfer of a board from an angiography system.

[0068] In the FIGS. 5 and 6, a second variant of a gurney 1 according tothe invention is shown with a support component 41 different than inFIGS. 3 and 4. This support component 41 is fashioned for fastening witha positive fit a wide and planar universal board 3C (see FIG. 5) as wellas for fastening with a positive fit a curved board 3B for a computedtomography device. As in the first variant, a curved depression 47 ispresent for positioning the curved board 3B with a positive fit.Furthermore, a curved depression 59 concentric to the recess 47 ispresent that is fitted as to width b and in the shape of its sidewalls,to the universal board 3C for fastening the universal board 3C, and actsas a contact surface for it. The depth t of the depression 59 is smallerthan the depth T of the recess 47 and the width b (>>80 cm) of thedepression 59 is larger than the width B (>>40 cm) of the recess 47. Theuniversal board 3C comes to rest in the depression 59 next to the recess47, which it bridges unsupported. In this second variant, movable seatedparts are not used to realize the positive fit with the two differentboards 3B, 3C, nor is a sensor device as in the first variant necessary.

[0069]FIGS. 7 and 8, the third variant of the gurney 1 according to theinvention is fashioned to accept with a positive fit the narrow board 3Aand the wider universal board 3C. As in the first variant (FIG. 3),guiding jaws 43, 45 that can be lowered down are present to fasten thenarrow board 3A. These guiding jaws 43, 45 can be lowered under theinfluence of the planar wider universal board 3C (see FIG. 8), such thatthe positive-fit depression 59 present for the universal board 3C isfree to accept the universal board 3C. With suitable positioning of theguiding jaws 43, 45 as is specified in connection with the firstvariant, a sensor device as was specified in connection with the firstvariant is not mandatory.

[0070] In FIGS. 9 and 10, a fourth variant of a support component 41 fora gurney 1 according to the invention is shown which is appropriate forpositive-fit acceptance and fastening of all three boards 3A, 3B, 3C.This variant is a combination of the three previously describedvariants.

[0071] The narrow board can be held by the base part 49 between theguiding jaws 43, 45 that can be lowered, and fastened with a positivefit. With lowered guiding jaws 43, 45 and a lowered base part 49 (seeFIG. 10), the curved board 3B can be fastened by the curved recess 47,or the wider universal board 3C can be fastened by the wider depression59. To unlatch the floor base 49, and optionally also to unlatch theguiding jaws 43, 45, a sensor device 55 and an unlatching device 51 arepresent as specified in connection with the FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0072] The measurement by the sensor 57 on the sensor device 55 is basedon the fact that the boards 3A, 3B, 3C are transferred at differentdevice-specific and predetermined heights at the device-side before theyare transferred from the respective examination or treatment devices.Before transfer of one of the boards 3A, 3B, 3C from a particularmedical device, the gurney 1, in particular the support component 41with the sensor device 55, is brought to a specific, predeterminedapproach height (position height) with respect to the medical device.The approach height is thereby measured with regard to the floor of theexamination room in which the gurney 1 located. Due to the differentheights of the board in the individual medical devices and thepredefined approach heights, the different heights of the lower edge ofthe boards 3A, 3B, 3C above the floor are used as a criterion for adifferent operation or actuation of the sensor 57.

[0073] To ease the setting of a defined starting height, a housing 71 ispresent (as shown in FIG. 1) on the chassis 5 of the gurney 1 in whichan electronically readable storage device 73 is integrated, in whichdifferent position heights of the support component 41 are stored. Inaddition, an input device 75 is integrated in the housing 71, havingthree operating buttons with which operating personnel can select one ofthree different examination devices, namely an angiography device, acomputed tomography device, or an x-ray fluoroscopy device. Dependent onthe input entered by the operating personnel at the input device 75, thesupport component 41 is automatically driven by the motors 21A, 21B tothe appropriate height, by suitable control software using theappertaining heights stored in the storage device 73.

[0074] At the foot end, all of the boards 3A, 3B, 3C belonging to thegurney 1 are provided with the same coupling mechanism to the second arm13, in particular according to FIG. 2.

[0075] The invention can be used for four or more board types, forexample with contact surfaces and/or movable seated parts arrangedfollowing one another for the different types as seen in the directionof the patient axis.

[0076] Although modifications and changes may be suggested by thoseskilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embodywithin the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications asreasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution tothe art.

We claim as our invention:
 1. A patient gurney comprising: a chassis; asupport component on said chassis, said support component having apositive fit mechanism adapted to interact with a patient support boardadapted for placement on said support component to prevent lateralmotion of said patient support board, said positive fit mechanism beingreleasable to allow removal of said patient support board by a patientsupport arrangement of a medical device; and said support component andsaid positive fit mechanism being automatically variably configurable toreceive and engage any of a plurality of types of patient supportboards, each having a head end and an underside, and differing from eachother as to at least one of a shape of the underside and a width of thehead end.
 2. A patient gurney as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supportcomponent and said positive fit mechanism are automatically variablyconfigurable, dependent on a patient support board placed thereon, topresent a different contact surface, adapted to produce a positive fitwith the type of patient support boards placed thereon, that isdifferent for each of said types of patient support board.
 3. A patientgurney as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support component comprises amovably mounted part that is adjustable as to at least one of positionand alignment, so as to assume a first position for making a positivefit with a first of said different types of patient support boards, andto assume a second position to accept another of said type of patientsupport boards.
 4. A patient gurney as claimed in claim 3 comprising asensor device adapted to interact with a patient support board placed onsaid support component to recognize which of said type of patientsupport boards is placed on the support component, said sensor deviceretracting the movably mounted part if said sensor recognizes that thetype of the patient support board placed on the support component doesnot require said movably mounted part for acceptance thereof.
 5. Apatient gurney as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said types of saidpatient support boards has a narrow width at said head end, and whereinsaid positive fit mechanism comprises two guiding jaws that are eachretractable into the support component, said guiding jaws being spacedfrom each other adapted to the narrow width.
 6. A patient gurney asclaimed in claim 5 comprising a sensor device adapted to interact with apatient support board placed on said support component to recognizewhich of said types of patient support boards is placed on the supportcomponent, said sensor device releasing the guiding jaws if said sensorrecognizes that the type of the patient support board placed on thesupport component does not require said guiding jaws for producing saidpositive fit.
 7. A patient gurney as claimed in claim 5 wherein each ofsaid guiding jaws has a side adapted to face said head end of said oneof said types of said patient support boards having a narrow width atthe head end, and wherein each of said sides of said guiding jaws has ashape adapted to conform to a side surface of the one of said types ofsaid patient support boards having a narrow width at the head end.
 8. Apatient gurney as claimed in claim 5 wherein one of said types of saidpatient support boards is a patient support board with a curvedunderside, and wherein said support component has a recess having atleast one of a width and a shape conforming to the curved underside. 9.A patient gurney as claimed in claim 8 wherein said support componentcomprises a base part adapted to support said one of said types of saidpatient support boards having a narrow width at the head end, said basepart being retractable into said support component to free said recessfor accepting said curved underside.
 10. A patient gurney as claimed inclaim 9 comprising a sensor device adapted to be actuated by a patientsupport board placed on said support component to identify which of saidtypes of patient support boards is placed on the support component, saidsensor device, upon recognizing said type as being a patient supportboard with a curved underside, automatically causing retraction of saidbase part to free said recess.
 11. A patient gurney as claimed in claim9 wherein one of said types of said patient support boards is auniversal patient support board and wherein said support component has adepression therein adapted as to at least one of width and shape toconform to said universal patient support board.
 12. A patient gurney asclaimed in claim 11 wherein said depression has a depth that is smallerthan a depth of said recess, and a width that is larger than a width ofsaid recess.
 13. A patient gurney as claimed in claim 1 wherein one ofsaid types of said patient support boards is a patient support boardwith a curved underside, and wherein said support component has a recesshaving at least one of a width and a shape conforming to the curvedunderside.
 14. A patient gurney as claimed in claim 1 wherein one ofsaid types of said patient support boards is a universal patient supportboard and wherein said support component has a depression thereinadapted as to at least one of width and shape to conform to saiduniversal patient support board.
 15. A patient gurney as claimed inclaim 1 comprising a sensor device adapted to interact with a patientsupport board placed on the support component to recognize which of saidtypes of patient support boards is placed on the support component, saidsensor device automatically causing said support component and saidpositive fit mechanism to be configured to receive the patient supportboard placed on the support component.
 16. A patient gurney as claimedin claim 15 wherein said sensor device interacts with the patientsupport board placed on the support component by mechanical contact withthe patient support board placed on the support component, saidmechanical contact actuating said sensor device.
 17. A patient gurney asclaimed in claim 16 wherein said chassis is adapted for placement on afloor, and wherein each of the types of said patient support boards hasa lower edge, and wherein said sensor device comprises a sensor that isdeflected a variable distance dependent on a height above the floor ofthe lower edge of a patient support board placed on the supportcomponent.
 18. A patient gurney as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidsupport component is mounted to said chassis so as to be adjustable inheight.
 19. A patient gurney as claimed in claim 18 further comprising amotor in driving engagement with said support component to adjust theheight of said support component.
 20. A patient gurney as claimed inclaim 19 further comprising a storage device in which a plurality ofdifferent heights of said support component are stored, and an inputdevice connected to said storage device allowing input of a selected oneof said different position heights, to automatically cause said motor toadjust the height of the support component to the selected one of saidposition heights.
 21. A patient gurney system comprising: a plurality ofdifferent types of patient support boards each having a head end and anunderside, and differing from each other as to at least one of a shapeof the underside and a width of the head end; a chassis; a supportcomponent on said chassis, said support component having a positive fitmechanism adapted to interact with a patient support board placed onsaid support component to prevent lateral motion of said patient supportboard, said positive fit mechanism being releasable to allow removal ofsaid patient support board by a patient support arrangement of a medicaldevice; and said support component and said positive fit mechanism beingautomatically variably configurable to receive and engage any of theplurality of the patient support boards.
 22. A patient gurney system asclaimed in claim 21 wherein said support component and said positive fitmechanism are automatically variably configurable, dependent on apatient support board placed thereon, to present a different contactsurface, adapted to produce a positive fit with the types of saidpatient support boards placed thereon, that is different for each ofsaid types of patient support board.
 23. A patient gurney system asclaimed in claim 21 wherein said support component comprises a movablymounted part that is adjustable as to at least one of position andalignment, so as to assume a first position for making a positive fitwith a first of said different types of patient support boards, and toassume a second position to accept another of said types of patientsupport boards.
 24. A patient gurney system as claimed in claim 23comprising a sensor device adapted to interact with a patient supportboard placed on said support component to recognize which of said typesof the patient support boards is placed on the support component, saidsensor device retracting the movably mounted part if said sensorrecognizes that the type of the patient support board placed on thesupport component does not require said movably mounted part foracceptance thereof.
 25. A patient gurney system as claimed in claim 21wherein one of said types of patient support boards has a narrow widthat said head end, and wherein said positive fit mechanism comprises twoguiding jaws that are each retractable into the support component, saidguiding jaws being spaced from each other adapted to the narrow width.26. A patient gurney system as claimed in claim 25 comprising a sensordevice adapted to interact with a patient support board placed on saidsupport component to recognize which of said types of patient supportboards is placed on the support component, said sensor device releasingthe guiding jaws if said sensor recognizes that the type of the patientsupport board placed on the support component does not require saidguiding jaws for producing said positive fit.
 27. A patient gurneysystem as claimed in claim 25 wherein each of said guiding jaws has aside adapted to face said head end of said one of said types of saidpatient support boards having a narrow width at the head end, andwherein each of said sides of said guiding jaws has a shape adapted toconform to a side surface of said one of said types of said patientsupport boards having a narrow width at the head end.
 28. A patientgurney system as claimed in claim 25 wherein one of said types of saidpatient support boards is a patient support board with a curvedunderside, and wherein said support component has a recess having atleast one of a width and a shape conforming to the curved underside. 29.A patient gurney system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said supportcomponent comprises a base part adapted to support said one of saidtypes of said patient support boards having a narrow width at the headend, said base part being retractable into said support component tofree said recess for accepting said curved underside.
 30. A patientgurney system as claimed in claim 29 comprising a sensor device adaptedto be actuated by a patient support board placed on said supportcomponent to identify which of said type of patient support board placedon the support component, said sensor device, upon recognizing said typeas being a patient support board with a curved underside, automaticallycausing retraction of said base part to free said recess.
 31. A patientgurney system as claimed in claim 29 wherein one of said types of saidpatient support boards is a universal patient support board and whereinsaid support component has a depression therein adapted as to at leastone of width and shape to conform to said universal patient supportboard.
 32. A patient gurney system as claimed in claim 31 wherein saiddepression has a depth that is smaller than a depth of said recess, anda width that is larger than a width of said recess.
 33. A patient gurneysystem as claimed in claim 21 wherein one of said types of said patientsupport boards is a patient support board with a curved underside, andwherein said support component has a recess having at least one of awidth and a shape conforming to the curved underside.
 34. A patientgurney system as claimed in claim 21 wherein one of said types of saidpatient support boards is a universal patient support board and whereinsaid support component has a depression therein adapted as to at leastone of width and shape to conform to said universal patient supportboard.
 35. A patient gurney system as claimed in claim 21 comprising asensor device adapted to interact with a patient support board placed onthe support component to recognize which of said types of patientsupport boards is placed on the support component, said sensor deviceautomatically causing said support component and said press fitmechanism to be configured to receive the patient support board placedon the support component.
 36. A patient gurney system as claimed inclaim 35 wherein said sensor device interacts with the patient supportboard placed on the support component by mechanical contact with thepatient support board placed on the support component, said mechanicalcontact actuating said sensor device.
 37. A patient gurney system asclaimed in claim 36 wherein said chassis is adapted for placement on afloor, and wherein each of said types of said patient support boards hasa lower edge, and wherein said sensor device comprises a sensor that isdeflected a variable distance dependent on a height above the floor ofthe lower edge of the patient support board placed on the supportcomponent.
 38. A patient gurney system as claimed in claim 21 whereinsaid support component is mounted to said chassis so as to be adjustablein height.
 39. A patient gurney system as claimed in claim 38 furthercomprising a motor in driving engagement with said support component toadjust the height of said support component.
 40. A patient gurney systemas claimed in claim 39 further comprising a storage device in which aplurality of different heights of said support component are stored, andan input device connected to said storage device allowing input of aselected one of said different position heights, to automatically causesaid motor to adjust the height of the support component to the selectedone of said position heights.
 41. A patient gurney system as claimed inclaim 21 wherein at least one of said types of said patient supportboards has at least a region that is transparent to x-rays.